Goyt Valley and Danebower Quarry 24th May 2022

The first birding group morning out after our two-week holiday was one of my personal favourites – to the Goyt Valley and Danebower Quarry. We usually hope to get Redstart, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit and Ring Ouzel. Well, we didn’t get all of these but we did get some.

As usual it was a bit rough getting up to the valley including a supposedly closed road, but we got there in the end. It rained a little while we were there and that didn’t bode that well for the morning, be that as it may, we continued on and, as usual, couldn’t see anything much to start with. Eventually birds usually begin to show themselves and the first was a briefly spotted Pied Flycatcher. When we walked down the path to the rover bed we found a nest box where a pair of Pied Flycatchers were coming and going from with food. This gave us much better views. Spotted Flycatchers were just not showing however; neither were the Redstarts! A Grey Wagtail walked along the river bed but we didn’t see any Dipper.

When we took the path above the road I cam across a single Tree Pipit sitting stock still on a post. It seemed entirely unconcerned about people and eventually we about 30 feet from it. It started singing and remained for long enough to get the books and apps out to confirm the ID. It confirmed it in no uncertain manner by rising up singing and slowly parachuting down. It repeated this a second time and this removed any doubts anyone could have had as to the species. We heard a Cuckoo yet again but it was a way away. A Treecreeper was good to see and there were the usual numbers of Chiffchaff and WIllow Warblers singing.

We ledt the valley and dropped in at the toilets only to find them colsed! We continued on to the Cat and Fiddle thinking we might get a drink and something to eat but the chap there was very dismissive and said that the seating are in the back was closed because they needed it for the weekend! It has clearly turned into a place when you can buy a biscuit and a cup of tea from a machine but that its all – disappointing. I used their loos nevertheless.

Down at Danebower Quarry we didn’t see any Ring Ouzels and didn’t run into any other birders to get a clue. A single Wheatear and a few Stonechat and Meadow Pipit were our lot – and a single Buzzard in the distance.

So, not our best visit to the Goyt Valley but we did get two good year ticks in Pied Flychatcher and excellent views of Tree Pipit.

Bird Sightings : Goyt Valley and Danebower Quarry 24th May 2022